5 Favorite YA Fiction Reads For Tweens

One of our TOP Posts from the Archives! These books are still great picks!

Recently a few friends asked me for some recommendations for some good young adult novels for teen and tween that were also clean. I realize that as the mother of a three year old I am an odd choice for recommending teen lit but I legit love the young adult genre.

My favorite Sunday School grade to teach is middle school girls and I need to be able to speak their language, y’all. Because seriously, it’s like an entirely different language. When I was in middle school we called boys that we were crushing on “boyfriends” but apparently kids these days call them “bae.” I thought all of the young girls I know were going around talking about Beyonce all the time. I don’t even know.

Anyhow, these are a few of my favorites:(*affiliate links included with title when you click, thank you for helping to support the site!)

The Anomaly Series by Krista McGee – This is also a faith-based series that is in the dystopian fiction genre. It takes place in post-apocolyptic America and in true YA fiction there is a bit of a love triangle and non-graphic violence.
(Other books by this author I recommend: First Date).

The Selection Series by Kiera Cass – This is a dystopian fiction series that has the Prince of the region choosing his bride via a Bachelor-style reality show. This series is not a faith based series but it is clean and chaste, free of sex and language but does contain a bit of violence with themes of war-torn countries. (ETA: A few people on our facebook page mentioned that the third book in this series has minor sex themes, although no sex takes place, and that they wouldn’t recommend it for the younger tween set, around age 10.).

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli – I have loved Jerry Spinelli ever since I was a kid reading Maniac McGee. Just recently I was sitting at a friends house and her daughter handed her a tangled up necklace and I was all “LET ME GET THE KNOT OUT OF THAT LIKE MANIAC MCGEE!” She did not know what I was talking about. Also that has nothing to do with the book Stargirl. Stargirl is a a wonderful look at the ideas of individuality, popularity and non-conformity..

The Matched Trilogy by Ally Condie – This is another dystopian fiction novel (What can I say, these are really popular with the youngins these days. I know. I can’t get away with saying “youngin.”) There is a good bit of romance here but it is completely chaste, with the main themes of the book being uncovering truth and what you will risk for it.

My personal opinion is that literature is a wonderful way to open up conversations about tough topics with our children. Because I have been asked often by some fellow mama friends about a few particular books that are currently incredibly popular with the teen and tween crowd, I have included my thoughts on them below. These books deal with more mature subject matter but I believe may offer jumping off points for conversation if you choose to read them. The themes in these books are heavier but vague, with allusions to sex without using any descriptive language of the act. If your daughter is wanting to read one of these titles (or see the accompanying movie) I would recommend reading these books prior to or alongside her, in order to facilitate conversation about what is inside.

In the years I have spent working with teenage girls, I have found that they are surrounded by these issues and want to talk about them. And that while they might feel nervous telling me directly about their own experiences, they’ll definitely talk to me about all of their opinions on Augustus and Hazel from The Fault In Our Stars

(You can also check out these books on Common Sense Media to see exactly how much language, etc. is in them)

The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth – You can’t avoid this best-selling teen book or it’s recently released movie counterpart, it’s kind of everywhere! I really liked this series and think that it is a good, safe read. Spoiler alert: there is a little bit of a question of whether or not the main characters sleep together in the final book, it’s purposely vague but it is included, which is why I listed this book here versus the completely clean books above..

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green – This is another book turned movie that my mom friends who have teenage girls have asked me about recently. I enjoyed this book however, it is not faith based at all. It has heavy themes of cancer and leaves room for much discussion about life after death, as well as the intensity of the romantic relationship between the leads. I might let my teen read it but not my tween..

The Hybrid Chronicles by Kat Zhang – This dystopian fiction series is based on the idea that humans are born with two souls inhabiting a single body. There are a lot of themes surrounding the idea of the greater good, personal responsibility, choosing between difficult choices and serving humanity. There is also a heavy emphasis on psychological means of control. (The third book in the series does not release until this fall so I can’t comment how the series progresses).

If I Stay by Gayle Forman – This was an intriguing read as a thirty-something but I wouldn’t recommend it for tweens. It is heavy on the intense romantic relationship and a plays a bit on the Grease theme of “good girl goes bad to impress boy.” It also deals with mature themes such as sex (while not graphic, still slightly descriptive) and graphic descriptions of a car accident and death. Older teens may be fine to read it but I always err on the side of discussing books that have such a unrealistic portrayal of romantic relationships.

This is just a small sampling of popular fiction that I have read recently, I would really love for you to leave your favorites in the comments section so that other moms can benefit!

(And if you are in the market for some great non-fiction for your teen and tween girls, I highly recommend Speak Love by Annie Downs!)

Kayla Aimee is a writer, mother and slightly spirited southern girl who spends her days uncovering hope and humor in unexpected places. She makes her home and garden in northern Georgia with her husband and toddler. Kayla shares stories of faith, family and her favorite things at www.kaylaaimee.comHer first book, Anchored: Finding Hope in the Unexpected is available now and she hopes you'll pick it up if you're need of a little encouragement and a laugh today.

10 Comments

Thanks for these recommendations. As a mom of a fourteen year old who is a voracious reader, we often find it difficult to find books that are interesting but appropriate. She will read classic literature and enjoys much of it but naturally gravitates to current fiction. She has read the Divergent series, The Fault in Our Stars, and Matched. As much as I can, I try to read these books as well, although of those three I’m only halfway through the Divergent series. I agree that it is a great way to open up conversations with my daughter.

Classic literature and some great “older” books by authors like Norma Fox Mazer are always my faves! I am always happy to see kids reading so I try to stay up on what is current and you’re totally right on them being hard to find!

The Dusk Gate Chonicles by Breeana Puttroff!! The best YA series I have ever read! It has a little bit of everything and is super clean! I would say 10 and up as long as they know at least the basics of the birds and the bees there is no scenes in the book but it does go into the husband wife relationship. Kind of like old movies do where they kiss then close the door all the themes are pro life, love, waiting for marriage, girl power and building relationships with in the family and of course romance based on way more than just physical! I can’t wait tll my daughter is old enough to read them!

Thanks for sharing these titles. I have a 7yo and a 5yo right now, and they love to read. The 7yo tries to read my books sometimes (which are mostly parenting stuff, so she better be a great mom one day :p ). Great to have some books to recommend when they are bit older that doesn’t involve magic, vampires, and gossip/drama.

I am a mother of two girls ages 13 and 14 and would like to recommend “Sarena of Beca” by Sadie York. The book is a Middle Age Fantasy Fiction about Sarena a 12 year old who goes to a new school and when she arrives at the school strange things start to occur as a result of her meeting a mysterious stranger. It is a great
book and I would highly recommend it!

I have a 13 (almost 14!) year old – who is a voracious reader! Last summer we read the “Mother Daughter Book Club” series. Each book follows a group of girls (& their moms – but mostly the girls) from 6th grade through the summer before they all go to college. There are mild romantic themes (crushes, 1st kiss). Very fun series.